Belharra

Belharra, (Belarra, literally "grass, weed") is a reef and a surf spot in France located off Saint-Jean-de-Luz in the Northern Basque Country, in the department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France. The shoal creates a violent wave. Before a jetty was constructed in the harbor, the wave would sometimes swallow ships moored at Socoa. The 8+ metre wave forms northwest of the bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, between Socoa and Hendaye, about 2.5 kilometers from the beach. It breaks only rarely, and doesn't break at all most winters. It was first surfed on November 22, 2002. For example, during the winter of 2013-2014, Belharra broke only three times: October 28, December 22 and January 7. The shoal, which sits between 14 and 18 metres deep, consists of a plateau forming a stepped overhang. When there is no swell, the area can be used as a dive site.